Glossary

List of terms beginning with Pa

Palliation: Treatment given to relieve symptoms rather than to treat the cancer.
Pancreas: Organ of the digestive system that makes insulin and some of the enzymes needed for digesting food.
Papanicolaou smear test: Method currently used for most smear tests in which a sample of cells is scraped from the cervix. The collected cells are spread onto a slide, fixed and then sent to a laboratory for examination.
Papillary: Microscopic characteristic of ductal carcinoma in situ, distinguished by its finger-like projections.
Papillomavirus: A group of over 100 viruses that cause warts; some forms can also cause cancer.
Parity: Number of children that a woman has had.
Pathogenesis: The physiological changes leading to disease.
Pathology: Science of the cause and effect of diseases, especially the examination of tissue samples in a laboratory for diagnostic purposes.